Appliance for horn musical instruments



I s. B. HUMES. APPLIANCE FOR HORN MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS.

APPUCATION FILED MAR. 22, 1919.

Patented Aug. 24, 1920.

GUY B. HUMES, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

APPLIANCE FOR HORN MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Aug. 24, 1920.

Application filed March 22, 1919. Serial No. 284,265.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, GUY B. HUMns, a citizen of the United States, and aresident of the city of Chicago, county of Cook, and State of Illinois,have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Appliances for HornMusical Instruments, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to an appliance for horn musical instruments andhas for its object the production of an appliance for horn musicalinstruments which will change some of the clear notes of such aninstrument to harsh and indistinct notes, thereby causin a rasping andsemi-discordant sound. further object is the production of an appliancefor horn musical instruments which will be easily and readily insertedin the bell of a horn and securely and firmly retained therein.

Other objects will appear hereinafter.

The invention consists in the combinations and arrangements of partshereinafter described and claimed.

The invention will be best understood by reference to the accompanyingdrawings forming a part of this specification, and in which- Figure 1,represents a side elevation of the device showing it applied to amusical instrument, and

Fig. 2, is a top plan view of the device, partly in section.

The preferred form of construction, as illustrated in the drawings,consists of a plurality of partially conically shaped tubes 1 which arepartially elliptical at their larger end 2 and secured together, asshown, by solder or any other suitable means. Intermediate the center ofsaid tubes 1 and their larger or elliptical ends, openings 3 areprovided therein, said tubes at said openings having an upwardlyprojecting annular flange 4. Cylindrical interiorly threaded bands 5,having an inwardly projecting annular flange 6, are secured to each ofsaid tubes 1 by flattening said flange 4 down over said flange 6,thereby securely clamping said member 5 to the member 1. There is thusformed at the base of member 5 a seat 7.

A cylindrical exteriorly threaded ring or band 9 having an inwardlyextending annular flange 10 is adapted to be threaded into member 5,thereby affording a means of securely clamping the member 8 between themembers 10 and 7. The member 8 is a circular disk formed from silk, fishskin, oiled paper or the like material to present a membranous vibrator.

Secured to the tube 1, near its smalleriend 11, are curved metallicspring strips 12, said members 12 being secured to said tube at oneextremity only. At both ends of said members 12 are perpendicularlyextending studs 13 secured to said members 12 by glue, or any othersuitable means. The device is adapted to be inserted into the bell 14 ofa horn musical instrument, leaving the members 9 clear or exterior ofthe horn. The studs 13 are preferably made of felt, cork, rubber, orsome other fibrous material which will afford a close engagement withthe wall of the horn. The studs 13 will cause the members 12 to bepressed into closer proximity to each other, thereby tending tostraighten said members. It is evident that there will be exertedoutward pressure on the studs 13, thereby holding the device securely inoperative position. The ends 2 of the tubes 1 are sealed air tight,while the opposite ends 11 of said tubes are left open, permitting thefree passage of air into said tubes when the horn instrument is used.

By inserting the device into the bell of a horn instrument, the tonesare mingled together and combined in such a manner as to produce,through the vibrations of the membranous film, a harsh or grating sound,or what is now popularly termed, a jazz sound. Mingling of the notesresults in a greater volume of sound and the destruction of theindividuality of the different notes. The clear notes proceeding fromthe instrument are broken up into notes of different wave lengths and amultiplicity of inharmonious notes results. It is evident, from Fig. 1,that some of the clear notes escape from the horn without being actedupon by the device described.

The effect of the device upon the notes is not in the nature of a reedeffect, but gives greater volume to the instrument. Incase the volume isexcessive, one or more of the films may be removed, until the desiredeffeet is obtained. For horn instruments having a larger bell, thedevice may consist of a larger number of the tubes.

While I have illustrated and described the preferred form ofconstruction for carrying my invention into effect, this is capable ofvariation and modification without departing from the spirit of theinvention. 1,

therefore, do not wish to be limited to the precise details ofconstruction set forth, but

desire to avail myself of such variations and;

modifications as come within the scope of the appended claims.

Having described my invention, what I claim as new and desire-to secureby Letters Patent is 1. In a device of the class described, a pluralityof tubes having one end thereof closed and having an opening in each ofsaid tubes intermediate the ends thereof; and a V vibrator disposed oversaid opening, substantially as described.

2. An appliance for horn musical instruments comprising a plurality oftubes each having one end thereof closed and a lateral openingintermediate the ends; a vibrating element disposed over said lateralopening; means for securing said vibrating element in its disposedposition; and means for securing the device in the bell of a hornmusical instrument, substantially as described.

3. In a device of the class described, a plurality of tubes fastenedtogether at their lonrality of tubes fastened together at their longitudinal sides, each of said tubes having one end thereof closed and alateral opening intermedlate their ends; an outwardly projectinginteriorly threaded'annular flange securedto each of said tubes at saidlateral thread into said annular flange, thereby clamping saidmembranousmember to said seat, substantially as described.

' 5. In an appliance for horn musical instruments, a plurality of tubessecured together having the exterior ends thereof closed and a lateralopening in each tube intermediate its ends; a membranous film disposedover the lateral opening in said tubes; curved spring strips secured atone end to each of said tubes; and means secured to said strips forengaging the interior wall of the musical instrument with which used,sub stantially as described.

6. In an appliance for horn musical instruments, a plurality of tubessecured together having the exterior ends thereof closed and a lateralopening in each tube intermediate its ends; a membranous film disposedover the lateral opening in said tubes; curved spring strips secured atone end to each of said tubes; and laterally projecting studs on bothends of said strips for engaginglzhe interior wall of themusicalii'istrument with which used, substantially as described. r

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in thepresence of two subscribing witnesses.

GUY B. HUMFES.

Witnesses: V

JOSHUA R. H. Po'rrs, HELEN F. LILLIS'.

